Chapter 142: Seaside Barbecue
"Hikki, look at what I've managed to catch," Yui exclaimed.
Hachiman observed Yui's lively wave and, upon closer inspection, realized she held a vibrant lobster in her hand. It seemed she had discovered it during her scuba dive.
"Hehe, see, Hikki, a big lobster."
Yui approached Hachiman with an exuberant smile, presenting the lobster as if it were a precious find, holding it before him.
"Yui, you're incredible."
Hachiman accepted the lobster from her outstretched hand, offering praise in the manner one would commend a child, and gently patted her head.
This lobster was notably sizeable, measuring approximately two feet in length. And it wasn't just Yui; Erina, Alice, and Yumiko had their own catches as well. Erina and Alice had secured crabs, while Yumiko had gathered a handful of scallops.
With these additions, they could enjoy a more diverse lunch.
As Hachiman examined the seafood in the girls' possession, an idea took hold. Since they had successfully gathered seafood, why not host a seafood barbecue in the afternoon? The kitchen held a grill and some leftover charcoal, presumably left behind by previous occupants.
When Hachiman shared his idea of having a seafood barbecue, everyone eagerly concurred.
Checking the time, it was already nearing noon. Hachiman called Komachi back from her scuba diving, and then he set about preparing lunch.
After the meal, they took some time to rest before commencing their afternoon activity: gathering more seafood.
To assemble the necessary ingredients for their seafood barbecue, they would have to venture underwater, given their proximity to the sea and their scuba gear.
Hachiman was certainly going, as there were over a dozen people, and they required a substantial amount of seafood. As the sole male present, he was the most capable candidate for this task. Moreover, his current physical condition was far from ordinary, making catching fish underwater a breeze.
To facilitate the girls' fishing endeavors, he visited a nearby fishing supply store to rent some fishing gear.
The initial group to descend into the sea consisted of Hachiman, Alice, Erina, and Yui.
Erina and Alice, being siblings, naturally indulged in their typical banter. This time, they were engaged in a friendly competition to see who could find more ingredients.
Hachiman, uninterested in getting entangled in Erina and Alice's friendly rivalry, fastened a bamboo basket around his waist and made his way toward the shoreline.
Upon reaching deeper waters, Hachiman executed a graceful dive headfirst into the sea. His movements were fluid, and he swiftly reached the seabed in a shallower section.
The shallow sea proved to be a vibrant world, illuminated by the warm, brilliant seawater. Various small fish of different colors glided amidst lively coral reefs, accompanied by exotic shellfish, starfish, jellyfish, and colorful seaweed, gently swaying in the rhythmic waves, crafting a picturesque scene.
Sunlight filtered through the tranquil seabed, casting prismatic colors that created a breathtaking spectacle. Even the rocks, plant life, shells, and corals on the seabed displayed the radiant hues of sunlight, leaving Hachiman in sheer amazement.
At a cluster of coral reefs, various shells and mollusks, along with soft-bodied creatures, moved at their own pace. For Hachiman, the seabed resembled a readily accessible seafood market.
Before long, his small bamboo basket was filled, and he had to swim back to empty it.
By the time he returned, Erina and the others had just reached the shallow seabed. This highlighted the swiftness with which he maneuvered underwater.
Without competing with them, Hachiman continued his journey deeper into the sea.
Upon reaching another section of the seabed, Hachiman resumed his quest for ingredients.
This time, he struck a stroke of luck, discovering several lobsters and crabs. It was quite the haul, but with his basket brimming with lobsters and crabs, along with a substantial lobster cradled in his hand, he had no alternative but to return once again.
Hachiman continued his back-and-forth shuttling between the seabed and the shore, each trip laden with seafood.
The three girls had already rotated multiple times, but he remained steadfast.
Erina, reclining in a beach chair, observed Hachiman's tireless trips and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Is this guy a monster? His stamina is so intimidating."
Saeko, who was nearby, blushed upon hearing this comment, her thoughts wandering to another place.
It wasn't until around 5 PM that they finally amassed a sufficient amount of ingredients. Unquestionably, the lion's share of the credit belonged to Hachiman. He had single-handedly unearthed more seafood than all the girls combined.
In addition to the seafood, Hachiman had marinated some beef in the kitchen during the afternoon. After all, a barbecue couldn't rely solely on seafood.
Hachiman, along with Erina, who excelled in culinary arts, had meticulously prepared the seafood. They also crafted a refreshing vegetable salad with a variety of fresh vegetables.
As the clock neared 6 PM, all the arrangements were at last in place, and the impending barbecue promised to be a spirited and lively event.
With the grill ablaze and the rack heated, Hachiman assumed the role of head chef, placing skewers of meat and seafood onto the sizzling grill.
The mouthwatering scent of cooking meat drifted through the air, leaving the girls eagerly anticipating their meal.
"Is it ready yet, kid? I'm absolutely ravenous," Shizuka teasingly prodded from the sidelines.
"Just about..."
Hachiman inspected a skewer, determining it to be nearly done. He added a dash of seasoning, and the first batch of skewers was deemed ready for consumption.
"Alright, here you go."
He distributed the grilled skewers and seafood among the girls, then loaded another batch of ingredients onto the grill.
As Shizuka took her initial bite of a skewer, her excitement was palpable.
"Heh, it's steaming hot... but incredibly delicious."
The other girls chimed in, their mouths watering as they savored the tantalizing aroma.
"Mmm... the meat is so tender."
"So full of flavor."
"Yes, it's absolutely fantastic."
The girls couldn't help but shower the food with praise.
"Oh, since it's a barbecue, how could we forget this?" Shizuka, relishing her meal, suddenly remembered something. She rose from her seat and made her way to the villa.
Shortly thereafter, she returned, carrying several cases of beer.
"How can we have a barbecue without beer?"
"Hey, we're all underage. Is it really okay for us to drink?" Hachiman, still managing the grill, couldn't help but voice his concern upon seeing the beer.
"It's fine, no one else knows, and it's just beer. A single can won't do any harm," Shizuka shrugged nonchalantly, distributing a can to each of the girls.
"You know, barbecue and beer are the perfect combination. How could we not give it a try?"
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